Facing the Facts

Abraham was not afraid to fact the facts. He fully recognized that his and Sarah's bodies were "as good as dead" when it came to being able to produce new life. Romans 4:18 says that there was no hope, yet "against ALL hope, Abraham in hope believed." He did not allow facing the facts to weaken his faith. How could this happen? V. 21 says that hewas "fully persuaded that God had power to do what He has promised." Think about that persuasion as evidenced as he took his son Isaac up to the mountain as God had commanded for a burnt offering and he proclaims to Isaac that "God will provide a lamb for the burnt offering." Abraham in hope believed. It was this persuasion that was credited to him as righteousness. Oh, may I be so fully persuaded that God has to the power to do what He says He will do.

Homelessness

Homelessness…I met her last night
She’s probably in her late 20’s
She has no family here
Dad’s back east
Mom’s in prison, should be out in 2011
They’ll get a place together then
Until then…there’s no place to call home
She stayed bundled in her sweatshirt, hood up, and coat
from the time she came till she left
Slept all night on a foam camping pad on the floor at the shelter
The shelter…
A warm place but only if it’s below freezing outside
A dry place but only if there’s more than an inch of precipitation
If it’s just above freezing or a little less than one inch…then where?
Then morning came…out by 7
It’s cold out there…
It’s Saturday…where do you go?
Nothings open…walk the streets…try to stay warm…
She came back in …do you have a sleeping bag?
Yes…do you need gloves?
Would you like a scarf?
Yes…but how do you put it on?
Oh, my dear…
have you never had the nurture of a mother to tenderly tie a warm scarf about you?

Homelessness…I met him last night
Didn’t expect hard times
Lost his job
Was staying in a transitional home, rent paid up… looking for work
Someone stole his money while he was sleeping
He raised a fuss…he got kicked out
The Veteran’s Home is full
Now he’s on the streets
Wanted to stay in this area to be near his kids
But, “it’s hard to find a job when you have no stable place”
Going to give it two more weeks
If nothing comes up, will head east
It’s morning now…out by 7
It’s cold out there…
It’s Saturday…where do you go?
Library doesn’t open till 1…walk the streets…try to stay warm

Homelessness…I met him last night
Where is your southern accent from?
Mississippi
How’d you get here?
The Navy
Thought things would be good when I got out
What was I thinking
Didn’t sleep to well last night…
Snoring…that guy talking in his sleep…
It’s morning now…out by 7
It’s cold out there…
It’s Saturday…where do you go?
Nothings open…walk the streets…try to stay warm

Homelessness…I met her last night
She is so young…early 20’s?
Brought here by a caring taxi cab driver who wanted her to be safe
She cam in late…left early…don’t know her story
But she carefully put on her makeup before she left…getting ready for the day
What kind of day?
It’s cold out there…
It’s Saturday…where do you go?
Nothings open…ride around in a tax?...walk the streets…try to stay warm

Homelessness…I met him last night
He’s been here before
When he came in he greeted me by name
Light blue eyes and a pleasant smile
But as folks settled in something went askew…something snapped
He accused, he blamed, he insisted, he threatened
He threatened to kill…he left no choice
The police had to come…he had to go
He left confused…he had no clue
He truly had no recollection of what had transpired…
Where did he go?
I do not know?
It’s cold out there…nothings open…walk the streets…try to stay warm

It’s morning now…out by 7
Yes, it’s cold out there…but I’ve somewhere to go
For down the road a piece is a house that is warm
And as I crawl between my flannel sheets
My mind wanders to…a woman waiting for 2011
a man who hit hard times
a man who served our country in the Navy
a woman who took time to look nice
a man who is tormented
All are out there…with nothing open…walking the streets…trying to stay warm.

Holiness

I've been reading...and wrestling...with...goodness and holiness. These thoughts were primed in the introduction chapter to "Holiness" by J.C. Ryle. How often have I heard, "She is a good person," or do I think. "I'm not so bad?" I always struggle with this when someone dies who was a good person...they helped destitute people, gave sacrifically, loved unbelievably, etc. I know from scripture that only those redeemed by the precious blood of the Lamb will enter into eternal life in glory, but when I see people "so good", I, humanly, struggle with that person missing out when they gave so much.
I believe, now, it is because I not only focus on goodness, but that goodness is one that is rated so on human terms. God's expectation of goodness is on a much different level and is it not an outgrowth of holiness? As we pursue holiness, then will we not also truly be good as God see's good? I believe that God's chief concern is holiness. "Without holiness no one will see the Lord."(Heb. 12:14) "Be holy, because I am holy."(Lev. 20:7, 1Pet. 1:16) "God saved us and called us to a holy life."(2Tim. 1:9)
The greatest application here is to the depth of my own heart. When I approach God's merciful throne and I have a proud heart that thinks that I've really been doing pretty well...how do I measure up against God's standard: HOLINESS! Now I see how wretched my heart is, how far I fall short. Oh for a humble and contrite heart. Oh to be holy as He is holy. May I never be tripped up by goodness when holiness is the standard.